Frequently Asked Questions about Transportation

Q: I cannot see my
child’s bus stop from the house. Are there state laws that set the standards
for bus stop location?

A: No law requires a parent to see the bus stop from home.
Students in Ohio may be assigned to a bus stop up to one-half mile from their
home and we encourage parents to accompany their child to the bus stop whenever
possible. This teaches the child safe habits of walking to and from the bus
stop and may give the parent peace of mind. Bus stop locations are determined
by each district’s board of education.

Q: Are sidewalks
required for my child to get to his/her bus stop?

A: Many students walk alongside of roadways to reach their
bus stop and in some instances no sidewalk exist. While we understand this may
be of concern in some situations, the Department of Education does not
promulgate bus stop placement. Issues relating to where a child’s bus stop is
located and safety concerns along the way to the bus stop must be addressed
with the district in which you reside.

Q: I transport my
child to a nonpublic/community school each day and just learned a program
exists for reimbursement. How can I be reimbursed for transporting my child?

A: As a parent, you should contact your public school
district and request transportation. If it is not practical for them to do so,
they will work with you to initiate a process to establish payment-in-lieu of
transportation. Parents are not afforded the option of being paid for
transporting their own child in cases where the service is provided by the
district but is not the service parents prefer.

Q: I make my child
wait inside of my house until the bus is at the stop. I have heard this is not
allowed –is this true?

A: Ohio law requires children to be waiting at the bus stop
prior to its arrival. Bus drivers count the students at the bus stop before
they load and as they get on the bus to ensure all children are safely on
board. If students are not waiting at the bust stop the bus driver cannot count
them and cannot be certain the students are all safely on board. Waiting at the
bus stop before the bus arrives further ensures that no one chases after the
bus—this is a very dangerous thing to do. Many districts also instruct their
buses to not stop at locations where no students are waiting.

Q: My child has an
I.E.P. but transportation is not being provided. Why is this?

A: A child who has an I.E.P. does not automatically receive
transportation unless the I.E.P. team writes this into the related services. If
transportation is not included on the I.E.P.,
your child will be transported similarly to regular education students
in your district.